Lovingly Artisan Bakery has officially been named the ‘best artisan bakery’ in Britain for the last three years!
The Top FOUR bakeries are based in North England and Scotland
LOVINGLY, run by husband and wife team Aidan Monks and Catherine Connor the bakeries in Cumbria (near Kendal) and Manchester’s Altrincham have yet again claimed the No.1 spot in the the 2025 Bakers’ Dozen – a list that showcases 13 artisan bakeries in Britain – voted for by industry experts.
About 100 specialists from artisan bakers, suppliers, consultants and lecturers, handpicked by trade publication British Baker, voted for their favourite artisan bakeries.
Judges praised the Lovingly team for their use of slow fermentation and organic British flour to make flavoursome and nourishing loaves.
The Bakers’ Dozen (13 bakeries) was revealed last Tuesday at The Artisan Collective, held at The Compound in Birmingham.
Lovingly’s owners Aidan Monks and Catherine Connor said: ‘’Winning the number one spot again for the third year in a row is totally incredible. To have your peers vote for you and recognise you as the UK’s top specialist sourdough bakery is a little overwhelming.
“Hopefully, everything we do for our customers has struck a chord and has begun to influence more and more artisan bakers up and down the country to put quality, wholesome, healthy bread at the centre of the dining table where it rightly belongs.”
Northern Rye Micro-bakery in South Shields, Newcastle upon Tyne, climbed two places to reach the No.2 spot. It is opening two more shops in North Shields and Harbour House.
New entrant Lannan in Edinburgh stole the No.3 spot. Rhubarb and Custard tart and Pistachio Tonka & White Chocolate Pain Suisse can be found on the menu.
Manchester’s Pollen Bakery with two sites, in Kampa and Ancoats Marina, serve the delights of French toast and Pollen’s Focaccia as well as Kimchi grilled cheese.
In at No.11 is Haxby Bakehouse, in York with its traditional baking ethos of using slow fermentation and no artificial flour improvers, preservatives or emulsifiers.
The Top Bakers’ Dozen are:
- Lovingly Artisan, Cumbria & Manchester
- Northern Rye, South Shields
- Lannan, Edinburgh
- Pollen, Manchester
- Arôme, London
- Bread Source, Norfolk
- Levain & Cherry, Birmingham
- Farro, Bristol
- Pettigrew Bakeries, Cardiff
- Gorse, Cornwall
- Haxby Bakehouse, York
- Bread Ahead, London
- Fortitude Bakehouse, London
